Benhamina obliquata

Taxobox
name = "Benhamina obliquata"


image_width =
status =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
subclassis = Orthogastropoda
superordo = Heterobranchia
ordo = Pulmonata
familia = Siphonariidae
genus = "Benhamina"
genus_authority = Finlay, 1927
species = "B. obliquata"
binomial = "Benhamina obliquata"
binomial_authority = (Sowerby, 1825)
synonyms = "Siphonaria obliquata" Sowerby, 1825

"Benhamina obliquata", is a species of air-breathing saltwater limpet, a marine pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Siphonariidae. It is very large compared with the other species in the family.

This is the only species in this genus; in other words, "Benhamina" is a monotypic genus.

Range of distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand, from Cook Strait south, including Stewart Island and the Auckland Islands.

Habitat

This air-breathing marine limpet is quite common on shaded rock surfaces in the upper tidal zone.

hell description

The shell is very large, and solid, oblong, with parallel sides, and has a high conical profile. The apex is situated about two thirds of the way to the posterior end of the shell. Shell sculpture consists of numerous, rather evenly spaced radial ribs which are wavy and wrinkled.

The shell coloration is light to dark brownish externally, with the ribs paler, and the whole body covered by a bright yellowish periostracum. Internally, the shell is greyish-brown to bright salmon-orange, with irregular central patches of dark-brown, and a narrow tesselated border of alternate white and brown markings.

The shell length is up to 65 mm, the width up to 44 mm, and the height up to 27 mm.

Life habits

The animal is a herbivorous feeder, and moves about only during the nocturnal low tide. The egg ribbon of this species is large, consisting of several coils, like that of the nudibranchs.

References

* Powell A. W. B., "New Zealand Mollusca", William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1